olia lialina: I see it as a fundamental right, though it won't be easy to advocate for it, because hardware and software industries will not give up the challenge to make computers as tiny as possible. Computer users are convinced as well that a good computer is one that is not visible or at least doesn't look like a computer. Myself, I don't plea for computers made huge and bulky again, at the same time, I believe that even when it is technologically possible to produce a totally invisible computer, the user should see that there is one.
Seeing the computer is a necessary pre-condition for coming to the idea to ask "what is this computer doing?" and further questions.
Danny Birchall: Focusing on the materiality of computers distracts us from the understanding that power exists, and is constituted in, the network, as James Bridle points out.
olia lialina: Danny, I'm talking about visibility, not exactly the same as materiality. Don't know which of Bridle's texts exactly you quote, but i'm sure somebody who makes drones visible won't plea for invisible computer.
Dan T.: Well, I bought a new PC earlier this year, of the big heavy desktop variety (Windows 7, none of that Win8 crap) in the midst of all the web articles proclaiming the death of the PC, so I still stand for real solid visible computers myself.
NewMedians: See the computer your data is being processed on.. Probably similar to a demand of less computation being done on Cloud services. If application has /some/ online functionality this software shall not be limited to function exclusively while online.
olia lialina: I see it as a fundamental right, though it won't be easy to advocate for it, because hardware and software industries will not give up the challenge to make computers as tiny as possible. Computer users are convinced as well that a good computer is one that is not visible or at least doesn't look like a computer. Myself, I don't plea for computers made huge and bulky again, at the same time, I believe that even when it is technologically possible to produce a totally invisible computer, the user should see that there is one. Seeing the computer is a necessary pre-condition for coming to the idea to ask "what is this computer doing?" and further questions.
Danny Birchall: Focusing on the materiality of computers distracts us from the understanding that power exists, and is constituted in, the network, as James Bridle points out.
olia lialina: Danny, I'm talking about visibility, not exactly the same as materiality. Don't know which of Bridle's texts exactly you quote, but i'm sure somebody who makes drones visible won't plea for invisible computer.
Dan T.: Well, I bought a new PC earlier this year, of the big heavy desktop variety (Windows 7, none of that Win8 crap) in the midst of all the web articles proclaiming the death of the PC, so I still stand for real solid visible computers myself.
despens: @Danny: If I see the computer, I can pull out the network cable or break off the antenna. :)
NewMedians: See the computer your data is being processed on.. Probably similar to a demand of less computation being done on Cloud services. If application has /some/ online functionality this software shall not be limited to function exclusively while online.